One Family's Sustainable Farming Experiences in the Northwoods of Wisconsin, USA

Wednesday, September 24, 2014

Autumn Work

I received the "All Clear" from the doctor when I went for the last x-rays of my ankle so I happily have no more activity restrictions, and Tom and I have been making up for lost time. The weather has been decent lately so we have been busy trying to get the outside work finished. I have been cutting back the brush around the house and cleaning up the "fire safety zone". Let me tell you, that is a job. I'm pooped! Even after three full days of sawing, pruning, and slashing with my brush sickles, it hardly looks like I've done anything. The chickens delightedly follow my progress because I haul the cuttings inside the coop area for them to peck. I'm surprised they like eating dogwood leaves; the grasses and brambles I can understand, but dogwood leaves? I hope to finish cutting back the slope by the chicken coop tomorrow. If I can keep up my steady pace, I should be finished with everything I want to cut back before I need to plant my garlic in mid-October. I will save cleaning up the garden boxes for last.

Speaking of garden boxes, take a good look at the front yard:

Tom and I are going to be filling this entire area with new garden boxes. He cut the lumber today, and we have been hauling mink poop from our good neighbor for the last few weeks. I told Tom I just can't shovel that stuff any more for a while so we are going to take a break from getting any more trailer loads.

Soil

Lumber

The very stinky stuff

The leaves are changing very rapidly now. I actually think we have reached peak color already. I always love being outside enjoying the trees at this time of year.

Of course, being inside can be fun, too. A day in my kitchen makes everyone smile.

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Rebuild America -- Buy American

Swamp Creek

About Our Farm

Swamp Creek Farm is part of my family's Homestead Act farm. My family has been farming this land since 1892. We are located near the Turtle Flambeau Flowage in the beautiful Heritage Area of Iron County, Wisconsin. We care what you eat and grow what we sell. Our heirloom or open pollinated produce is sustainably grown and available in season. When we have them, we also sell chickens and eggs from our flock of Dominique chickens. We are working on building our infrastructure and developing a diverse fruit and nut orchard; we are "into" permaculture! We sell from our farm and at local farmers markets only. We do not give tours at this time.